The
following is a dictated translation of the hand-written application to
the U. S. Navy Examination Board during the Civil War by a civilian
physician/surgeon for a position as a medical officer in the Federal
Navy or for promotion to Assistant Surgeon by an Acting Assistant
Surgeon. The actual
applications are in the possession of the author and presented to
enlighten the general public and other researchers as to the education
process before and during the Civil War, the personal history of the
applicants, as well as to show their personal level of medical knowledge
in answering the questions asked by the Navy Board of Examiners.
(Some applicants failed to pass and did not serve or served in the Union
Army.)
This written presentation was first of a part of a two-part exam consisting of a written
exam and an oral exam.
Many of these applications are rich
with highly detailed medical content offering an interesting perspective
on the medical knowledge and practices of the period.
A broad sampling of these exams is presented to
give you a 'picture' of the type of applicant being examined and
admitted to or rejected by the Federal Navy in 1863. Much more detail
on the individuals and their personal and naval history will be
presented in a forth-coming book by Dr. Herman.
(The actual written exam photos are available, but not presented on
these pages due to the size of the files. An
example
of a hand-written exam is on the
'List of all Applicants' page)
If you have additional information or images for any of these
doctors, please
contact us.
A list with links to
all applicants in this survey of U.S. Navy Applicants for 1863
Example of a handwritten exam given by the Navy Examination Board
Applicant: Archibald C. Fowler, M.D.
Boston, June 16th, 1863.
Sir,
I was born in Mishawaka, St.
Joseph Co, Indianna [sic], on the 8th of February
1838: During the following years, my father having died, my mother
removed to Pawling Duchess Co N. Y. where I resided until the
fall of 1858, when we moved to West Medford, Middlesex Co
Mass. where I now live. I prepared for College at Amenia Duchess Co
N. Y.: entered Union College in Schenectady N. Y. in 1856, and was
graduated in July 1860.
I entered the Medical School of
Harvard University in November 1860, and continued my medical studies
under the professors of that school up to March 1st 1863,
since which time I have been studying with Dr D. W. Cheever
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
A. C. Fowler
Surgeon Ruschenberger
Navy Yard, Boston, Mass.
[Board note in pencil]: This is
among the very best of the candidates offered so far. In the absence of
Surgeons Fox and Potter, I have ventured to associate Asst Surg Willard
in the examination
Questions by the Board:
Dr. Archibald C. Fowler is requested
to write answers to the following questions.
1. What is the origin,
course and distribution of the left carotid artery?
2. What are the
diagnostic symptoms of dysentery?
3. What are the
officinal preparations of opium?
4. What are the
physical properties of chlorine?
5. What changes are
produced in atmospheric air by respiration?
6. Define the term
“latent heat”, “temperature”, and specific gravity?
Answers by Fowler:
1. It a arises from the arch of the
aorta, and runs upwards, and forwards to the sterno=clavicular
articulation; from which point its course is represented, very nearly,
by a line drawn from this articulation to a point midway between the
angle of the jaw, and the mastoid process. In the sheath is included
the artery, the Pneumogastric nerve, + the internal jugular vein. The
vein lies to the outside, and the nerve between the artery and vein. At
the level of the clavicle the artery is crossed by the vein where it
joins the brachio=cephalic. Outside, in front of the sheath, and
connect with it, is the decendens noni nerve, which joins a branch of
the cervical plexus at about the middle of the neck. The artery is
covered, in the lower two thirds of its course by the sterno=mastoid,
sterno=hyoid, and sterno=thyroid muscles, and is crossed, about two
inches above the clavicle by the omo=hyoid. On a level with the thyroid
cartilage it divides into the external and internal carotids.
2. Small mucus, or bloody stools
accompanied with pain, straining at stool, and tenesmus.
3. Pulvis Opii. Pilulae Opii.
Pulvis Ipecacuanha et Opii.
Tinctura Opii. Tincture
Opii Camporata.
Actum Opii. Vinum Opii.
Morphia Sulphae.
4. It is an irrespirable gas, of a
greenish colour, + a peculiar suffocating odour.
5. It loses oxygen, and gains
carbonic acid and watery vapour.
6. “Latent heat” is the heat
contained in a body, which is not sensible to a thermometer.
“Temperature” is the degree of heat which is indicated by thermometer.
Specific gravity of a body is its weight divided by the weight of an
equal bulk of water at 60°F.
A. C. Fowler
Navy Yard Boston
June 16th, 1863.